Inside The Bills » Mike Pettinehttp://blogs.buffalobills.com
Official Blog of the Buffalo BillsTue, 31 Mar 2015 20:46:29 +0000enhourly1http://wordpress.com/http://s2.wp.com/i/buttonw-com.png » Mike Pettinehttp://blogs.buffalobills.com
Pettine: A tough day at the officehttp://blogs.buffalobills.com/2014/11/30/pettine-a-tough-day-at-the-office/
http://blogs.buffalobills.com/2014/11/30/pettine-a-tough-day-at-the-office/#commentsMon, 01 Dec 2014 01:50:55 +0000http://blogs.buffalobills.com/?p=41797]]>For Browns head coach Mike Pettine, the outcome wasn’t what he was hoping for, but he appreciated seeing some of the players he worked with last season.

“To stand here now, it’s tough. It wasn’t a good day at the office,” said Pettine. “It was good to be back here and see a lot of the people that I have very good relationships with. A lot of the guys on defense came up to me after the game. These are guys that you form that bond or brotherhood with when you go through a season together. So, it’s good to see them doing well, it just wasn’t good seeing them doing well today.”

Pettine said they will re-evaluate who they decide to start at quarterback next week after Johnny Manziel entered the game in relief of Brian Hoyer in the fourth quarter of their loss to the Bills

]]>http://blogs.buffalobills.com/2014/11/30/pettine-a-tough-day-at-the-office/feed/0Chris BrownWhere Schwartz has made ‘D’ betterhttp://blogs.buffalobills.com/2014/11/30/where-schwartz-has-made-d-better/
http://blogs.buffalobills.com/2014/11/30/where-schwartz-has-made-d-better/#commentsSun, 30 Nov 2014 15:24:23 +0000http://blogs.buffalobills.com/?p=41767]]>There weren’t many who thought that Buffalo’s defense, which was a top 10 unit under former coordinator Mike Pettine, could do better in a different scheme the following year under Jim Schwartz. So far Schwartz’s unit has proved the naysayers wrong.

Buffalo is currently on pace to shatter their own team record set last season in sacks (57). They currently lead the league with 46 and are on pace for 67, which would be among the five highest in NFL history.

They’re also fourth overall, fourth in points allowed, eighth against the run, fifth against the pass, third in takeaways and first in the NFL on third down.

“It’s a different mentality,” said Marcell Dareus of Schwartz’s approach. “He’s a totally different guy. He just comes with his own thing. He puts us in the best position and we do the best that we can.”

]]>http://blogs.buffalobills.com/2014/11/30/where-schwartz-has-made-d-better/feed/0Chris BrownDareus on difference between Pettine & Schwartzhttp://blogs.buffalobills.com/2014/11/29/dareus-on-difference-between-pettine-schwartz/
http://blogs.buffalobills.com/2014/11/29/dareus-on-difference-between-pettine-schwartz/#commentsSat, 29 Nov 2014 20:10:32 +0000http://blogs.buffalobills.com/?p=41763]]>Bills DT Marcell Dareus in the midst of a 10-sack season was asked what the difference is between his last two defensive coordinators, Mike Pettine, now the head coach in Cleveland and Jim Schwartz.

“Pettine he likes to mess with the people, Schwartz is more stay with the game plan, mess with your head, but also, ‘I’m on you’ type of D-coordinator,” said Dareus. “He’s just a little different, but they’re both great D-coordinators with good game plans so it’s going to be exciting.”

The Bills and Browns have split their last six meetings together.

]]>http://blogs.buffalobills.com/2014/11/29/dareus-on-difference-between-pettine-schwartz/feed/0Chris BrownDareus: Matchup with Pettine will be funhttp://blogs.buffalobills.com/2014/11/27/dareus-matchup-with-pettine-will-be-fun/
http://blogs.buffalobills.com/2014/11/27/dareus-matchup-with-pettine-will-be-fun/#commentsThu, 27 Nov 2014 15:21:14 +0000http://blogs.buffalobills.com/?p=41734]]>The Bills defense is just a year removed from being coached by Browns head coach Mike Pettine, who served as their defensive coordinator in the 2013 season. Not surprisingly, the players on defense are excited to square off against him and his Cleveland team in a pivotal AFC game.

“It’s going to be fun,” said Marcell Dareus. “I like Pettine. He’s a good dude. He’s got a cool personality. So I know what we’re going to get with him. He’s going to try to pick on each one of us because he knows our strengths and weaknesses because we rolled with him for a year so I’m excited about it.”

]]>http://blogs.buffalobills.com/2014/11/27/dareus-matchup-with-pettine-will-be-fun/feed/0Chris BrownFan Friday 3-14http://blogs.buffalobills.com/2014/03/14/fan-friday-3-14/
http://blogs.buffalobills.com/2014/03/14/fan-friday-3-14/#commentsFri, 14 Mar 2014 19:54:24 +0000http://blogs.buffalobills.com/?p=37743]]>Free agency is in full swing with the Bills nailing down three new players in the early going. Stay close to Buffalobills.com for updates throughout free agency. For now let’s get to your questions from email at AskChris@bills.nfl.net and on Twitter @ChrisBrownBills.

1 - Hi Chris,

Jim Schwartz is obviously a good good coach and the Bills Defense did some really good things last year under Mike Pettine. My question is how likely will Coach Schwartz try to “not fix what ain’t broke” and keep some/most of the good stuff from last year (even though they may not be his concepts) while adding his own flavor to improve thing that do need to be improved, like run defense for example?

Thanks in advance.
Grant Folkard

CB: In talking with coach Marrone about this during the offseason the way he’s explained it is Coach Schwartz is going to keep most of the terminology the same. The reason this isn’t a big burden for him is because he spent a couple of seasons as a defensive assistant under then Baltimore defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis. Mike Pettine also coached in Baltimore where the defensive system and terminology remained the same even after Marvin Lewis left to coach in Cincinnati. So a lot of the calls and checks will not only be the same, but sound the same.

As for the run defense Marrone is wholly confident that Schwartz, whose defenses have enjoyed tremendous success against the run, will dramatically improve the unit’s performance in this area as well as third down defense.

2 - Hey Chris, long time Bills fan.
Wondering if you could shed some light on a few things.

First with hiring a former head coach for D coordinator, what are the chances he stays longer than one season? Do you think this was something that was discussed in private between coach Marrone and Jim Schwartz? And if not how big of a problem would this be for Dough Marrone heading into his 3rd season.

Also with Todd Downing being a QBs coach, with out ever playing the position. Is this fair with all the pressure being put on EJ? I read that EJ really likes him but don’t we need experience there? Playing? To mentor EJ and the struggles that come along with being a QB..

Thanks Jacob

CB: I don’t know that anyone can predict how long a coordinator is going to remain in his current post in the NFL. There are too many variables at work like the number of head coaching vacancies at the end of the year, how effective Schwartz is in his first year here, how successful the team is and coach Schwartz’s own personal aspirations.

Coach Marrone can’t have that kind of talk with Schwartz because no coach in the NFL is going to hold an assistant back from an opportunity at a head coaching job. That’s just not the way it works.

When you hire quality people that’s the risk you run, but I’d rather have the quality coach that’s in demand.

As for Todd Downing he has played the quarterback position. I cannot find his college background, but he did play semi-pro ball in the Mid-America League for the Minnesota Maulers and won a league title there in 2002 as their quarterback. So the position is not foreign to him at all.

I’d like to think coach Marrone’s track record of hiring assistants in the short time he’s been the Bills head coach should tell you he’s not going to hire someone who is not qualified to help the player at the most important position on the field.

3 - Chris,

I’ve seen several posts in which you referenced the “12th Man”. Does the team officially call its fans the 12th Man or is that just a personal reference? I’m having a huge argument with some Seahawk fan coworkers about whether anyone besides the Seahawks is officially allowed to use that term.

Thanks.
Cliff Hogg

CB: The 12th Man was adopted by Bills fans long before the Seattle fans started using it. The first football outfit to coin the phrase however, was Texas A&M University. They’re credited with the first recorded use of the term in 1922 when coach Dana Bible was running out of players in the Dixie Classic against defending national champion Centre College. In the stands he noticed a student who tried out for the team, but did not make the varsity squad and promptly told him to suit up and be ready in case he was needed. The volunteer player, E. King Gill, ran to the locker room and suited up and got back out to the field. He never entered the game, but became known as the 12th man.

So the Aggies have got dibs on everybody, but concerning your argument the 12th Man was popularized in the late 80’s and early 90’s. In 1988 Bills fans set an all-time single-season NFL attendance record of 622,793. Fans were then honored as the ‘12th Man’ and inducted onto the Bills Wall of Fame in 1992.

4 – Hey Chris,

I ask you if Sammy Watkins, Jake Matthews, or Eric Ebron are there at nine which one helps EJ in his evolution more? Or do we go as we have in the past & pick up a O linemen later such as Z. Martin & go with a player like Mack if he is there seeing as the defense thing lingers.

Thanks !!
Mr. T from Fort Myers via Nashville

CB: I think going by the best on the board approach that the Bills usually take it would be hard for me to think that Ebron or Matthews will be rated higher than Watkins. Most experts see him as a top five talent and I have not heard the same consensus for Matthews and certainly not for Ebron, though he is a special talent.

I think any one of those three would be of great help to Manuel in different ways, but GM Doug Whaley will take the player that helps the team the most. And that likely involves Manuel to some degree, but that’s the all-encompassing view a general manager has to take.

5 - Morning Chris, Happy Friday!

I was wondering how the Bills go about setting up their needs in free agency and the draft. I was wondering how much emphasis they put into the upcoming 2014 schedule? For instance, we will have to face guys like Calvin Johnson, Alshon Jeffrey and Brandon Marshall, receiving corps from Green Bay and Denver. Do they look at the defensive fronts, the AFC East is getting better defensively, not to mention teams like Houston and Detroit. So basically how much does that affect their decision making when it comes to the importance of positions that are needed for the team? Thanks for your hard work, and I hope you enjoyed Indy at the combine!

Go Bills! Jillian

CB: We did enjoy Indy very much. Glad you watched our coverage of the NFL combine. Your question is a good one. Typically opponents in a given year do not impact their decision making all that much in free agency and the draft. Teams like Chicago and Green Bay, which the Bills see only once every four years is not what you usually base your personnel decisions on.

That being said I do know that some moves are made with a team’s division opponents in mind. You’re facing those teams every season, twice a season and you have to beat them to win your division and get to the postseason. So the personnel make-up and strengths of teams like New England, the Jets and Miami could play a role in some decision making.

Again it’s not an overwhelming factor, but those teams are taken into consideration knowing they stand in the way of a playoff berth.

The news isn’t surprising knowing Browns head coach Mike Pettine is looking for as many players as possible that know his defensive system walking in the door. The report indicated that they’ve made significant progress on a potential deal.

]]>http://blogs.buffalobills.com/2014/03/11/report-moats-reps-talking-with-browns/feed/0Chris BrownHow Bills will fill coaching holeshttp://blogs.buffalobills.com/2014/01/27/how-bills-will-fill-coaching-holes/
http://blogs.buffalobills.com/2014/01/27/how-bills-will-fill-coaching-holes/#commentsMon, 27 Jan 2014 23:27:33 +0000http://blogs.buffalobills.com/?p=36905]]>With a few more assistants from Buffalo’s defensive staff expected to be heading to Cleveland under Mike Pettine, head coach Doug Marrone and new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz will be busy filling coaching holes in the coming days and weeks. But what kind of input will Schwartz have?

“This is coach Marrone’s team and he’ll be the determining factor in that, but we’re all in this together,” Schwartz told Buffalobills.com. “It’s important not to just take the first choice, but to make sure we’ve got the right guy in all the positions. It’s no different than any other team. It’s hard to keep staffs together in the NFL. There is always going to be change whether a team is successful or not successful. There are a lot of people in those phases that fit better in some situations than others. I think that coach Marrone will work very hard to find the best guys for the spots that we do have.”

Buffalo is expecting to have openings at defensive line, linebackers and defensive quality control.

]]>http://blogs.buffalobills.com/2014/01/27/how-bills-will-fill-coaching-holes/feed/0Chris BrownMarrone lays out likely coaching departureshttp://blogs.buffalobills.com/2014/01/27/marrone-lays-out-likely-coaching-departures/
http://blogs.buffalobills.com/2014/01/27/marrone-lays-out-likely-coaching-departures/#commentsMon, 27 Jan 2014 22:33:09 +0000http://blogs.buffalobills.com/?p=36902]]>Bills head coach Doug Marrone wasn’t shy in laying out what he feels will unfold in terms of departures from his coaching staff, as former defensive coordinator Mike Pettine tries to put together his own staff in Cleveland.

Marrone, who granted Cleveland permission Monday to interview linebackers coach Jim O’Neil, said he expects up to four coaches on his defensive staff to leave for the Browns.

“As of right now Jim O’Neil was granted permission and he’ll be leaving to go to Cleveland to be the defensive coordinator to the best of my knowledge,” he said. “Brian Fleury, who was the quality control coach, will be going to Cleveland to the best of my knowledge to be an assistant linebacker coach. And Jeff Hafley, who really wasn’t here long, will be leaving for Cleveland to the best of my knowledge working with the secondary in Cleveland. As far as Jim and I and the rest of the defensive staff we’ll work together and bring the best coaches in here. That’s our responsibility to Mr. Wilson, to Russ, to Doug and more importantly to our players.”

Marrone was also asked about defensive line coach Anthony Weaver, who also came to Buffalo with Pettine from New York, and wasn’t optimistic about him staying in Buffalo either.

“Anthony Weaver, I’ve had a conversation with him today and again Russ (Brandon) and I had this conversation and it’s very important for us and this organization and this region, I think every fan and everyone out there totally understands that we want people that want to be here,” said Marrone. “I think that’s the most important thing and that’s the most important message. I spoke to him today and right now I don’t feel good about that, him coming back.”

The Bills presumably want to let new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz speak with O’Neil to ascertain whether they can work together effectively on defense.

]]>http://blogs.buffalobills.com/2014/01/26/report-bills-have-deadline-on-lbs-coach-oneil/feed/0Chris BrownFan Friday 1-24http://blogs.buffalobills.com/2014/01/24/fan-friday-1-24/
http://blogs.buffalobills.com/2014/01/24/fan-friday-1-24/#commentsFri, 24 Jan 2014 17:48:26 +0000http://blogs.buffalobills.com/?p=36855]]>Well the Bills have begun their search to find the best successor to Mike Pettine now that he’ll be running the Browns. Here’s the latest edition of your questions on email at AskChris@bills.nfl.net and on Twitter @ChrisBrownBills.

1 – With Mike Pettine going to the Browns do you think the next coordinator Buffalo hires will employ the same scheme and same terminology as Pettine, or will it be totally different, or will it be a similar scheme with different terminology and maybe some different details. It’s a shame that we’re losing Pettine. I was looking forward to having the same d-coordinator and scheme going into the next season; that hasn’t happened in a long time. It would be nice to be able to get deeper into the current scheme in the off season rather than starting from scratch like we’re usually doing. I think this is a big step back for the defense, you can’t build a consistently dominate defense if you’re constantly changing schemes and coaches. The good teams in this league seem to have consistency.

CB: I think the future of the defensive scheme will depend largely on whether the replacement at defensive coordinator comes from outside the organization or is an internal hire. If it’s an internal hire then the chances are far greater that the scheme remains the same. If it’s a hire outside the organization there’s a chance that the scheme changes, which we all know will lead to a new learning curve. It’s my understanding that coach Marrone will not limit himself to promoting only from within.

I think hiring an open-minded defensive coordinator is the best way to go, one who isn’t married to a specific system. One who, much like Pettine, fits the scheme to the players, not the players to the scheme.

Continuity is a factor granted, but Marrone knows he has to get the best defensive play caller to help maintain the level of productivity and play on that side of the ball. Restricting his search to only the men already on his staff would be just that, restrictive.

2 – Hello Chris,

Goodbye Stevie Johnson and hello Sammy Watkins. We need a real game breaker now!!! After watching everyone pick Geno Smith #1 last year (lol), it won’t be Bridgewater either. Any team in their right mind is going for Clowney. QB is too risky at #1. What are your early thoughts on the Bills pick?

Jim (Skaneateles)

CB: First, I don’t get the sense that Stevie Johnson is going anywhere. I admit things appeared sketchy for his future here at the end of the season. Even I was wondering what the future might hold. But I think we need to remember that to help EJ Manuel progress you need to surround him with as much talent as possible. Johnson is the most accomplished receiver on the roster.

That doesn’t mean I don’t think the Bills need to make an addition to the team at receiver. I think they need to add a size wideout. In the words of Doug Whaley, “Big wins.” But I expect the Bills to at least explore veteran options in free agency because there already is so much youth in the receivers room.

Second, I don’t expect Sammy Watkins to be on the board at nine. He’ll be gone in the first three to five picks. If he slips I’ll be stunned.

I think at nine, and Bills fans might not like me for this, but based on the talent that should be there an offensive tackle would make a lot of sense. There’s a long time between now and the draft, which is in May this year, but I think knowing how QB needy some of the teams ahead of Buffalo are I believe that some of the top O-line talent could be sitting there for the Bills. We can’t forget that the Bills gave up the third-most sacks in the league last year (48), and with an emphasis on surrounding EJ Manuel with talent, and more important keeping him healthy, protection will be at a premium.

3 – Chris,
Any word from EJ as to his training regimen during the off-season? Will he be going back to Ken Mastrole or is he mostly just for getting ready for pro days and combine prep? Do you think there will be a QB coach added this year?

CB: In a recent interview EJ said he was actively rehabbing to get his knee back to 100 percent. He did say he planned to do more offseason work with his personal QBs coach. And hopefully you’ve seen our reporting on Doug Marrone’s plan to hire a quarterbacks coach to lighten the burden that was on offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett last year.

In fact by this time next week there might already be a QBs coach on staff.

4 – Hey Chris,

I was wondering, with reading about the Toronto series & seeing R. Brandon at the year end press conf. exactly how far does Brandon’s power reach into the actual football side of the team ? Meaning setting up the draft board, choosing players, who to keep /who to let go (as in the Fitz decision) & so on . I know the guy is supposed to be a great mind when it comes to the advertisement & selling of the team but there have been more than a one decision that has been made this & previous years when it comes to the team that I personally wonder who made these decisions .

I know Russ wasn’t promoted until this past year & I would hope that he would leave the player & direct football decisions to those that were hired to make those calls, but i do know like in the case of some teams the owner & or president of operations power is used sometimes far too much to influence the direction or decisions of those hired to do those jobs of which some recent decisions to me any way seem as though that may have been the case . I am in agreement with the way that the team is going & some of the players that have been brought in but as all fans I have my own ideas & opinions (which don’t amount to much) but try not to draw conclusions with out knowing more than I do & that is why once again i turn to you for some possible answers. Which again as always I thank you for the time & efforts that you put forth to keep us all in the know!!

Mr. T from Fort Myers via Nashville

CB: I think Russ Brandon said it best himself at the end of the season press conference. He was asked for his assessment of EJ Manuel and he gave the following response, which I believe explains a lot with respect to his role on the football side of the organization.

“My assessment really is empowered through Doug Whaley and coach Marrone. That’s what I empowered these guys to do last year and certainly we’re going to put every resource behind all 53 of our guys to improve. Obviously the bell cow is usually the quarterback and gets all the publicity and all the media attention as we mentioned earlier. But we’re going to put everything behind him and try to see some marked improvement moving forward.”

5 – Chris,

I’m not finding anywhere that has where the Bills overall on offence and and defence were among the rest of the league. (Just stuff like #2 in rushing…) maybe you could post something about it?

thanks,
jeff zinger

CB: Here are some of the more noteworthy statistical rankings that I believe you’re interested in.

OffenseTotal yards per game – 19th
Rushing – 2nd
Passing – 28th
Sacks per play – 28th
Third down – 29th
Points per game – 22nd

DefenseTotal yards per game – 10th
Run defense – 28th
Pass defense – 4th
Sacks per play – 3rd
Third down – 14th
Points allowed per game – 20th

]]>http://blogs.buffalobills.com/2014/01/24/fan-friday-1-24/feed/0Chris BrownSuper Bowl teams lost coordinators last yearhttp://blogs.buffalobills.com/2014/01/24/super-bowl-teams-lost-coordinators-last-year/
http://blogs.buffalobills.com/2014/01/24/super-bowl-teams-lost-coordinators-last-year/#commentsFri, 24 Jan 2014 15:36:42 +0000http://blogs.buffalobills.com/?p=36841]]>While a good number of Bills fans are ticked that the Cleveland Browns hired Mike Pettine away from Buffalo there’s an interesting note to make about how teams fare after they lose a good coordinator when looking at this year’s two Super Bowl participants.

The Denver Broncos lost their offensive coordinator Mike McCoy last year, who was named the head coach of the San Diego Chargers. In 2013, the first year with a new coordinator they finished number one in the league in total offense. Similiarly the Seattle Seahawks, the NFC rep for the Super Bowl this year, lost their defensive coordinator last offseason in Gus Bradley, who was named the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars. And the Seahawks finished number one in total defense in 2013.

Granted, both units already had a lot of things going for them in terms of talent, but having been a top 10 defense in 2013, there’s no reason to believe there should be a drop off for Buffalo’s defense, especially knowing that the majority of the players in that defense are under contract and will be back for 2014.

]]>http://blogs.buffalobills.com/2014/01/24/super-bowl-teams-lost-coordinators-last-year/feed/0Chris BrownBills will face Pettine next seasonhttp://blogs.buffalobills.com/2014/01/23/bills-will-face-pettine-next-season/
http://blogs.buffalobills.com/2014/01/23/bills-will-face-pettine-next-season/#commentsThu, 23 Jan 2014 21:34:58 +0000http://blogs.buffalobills.com/?p=36829]]>The Bills lost their defensive coordinator Mike Pettine Thursday as he becomes the head coach of the Cleveland Browns. But he’ll be coaching back in Orchard Park in 2014.

]]>http://blogs.buffalobills.com/2014/01/23/bills-will-face-pettine-next-season/feed/0Chris BrownPettine lands in Clevelandhttp://blogs.buffalobills.com/2014/01/23/pettine-lands-in-cleveland/
http://blogs.buffalobills.com/2014/01/23/pettine-lands-in-cleveland/#commentsThu, 23 Jan 2014 19:12:02 +0000http://blogs.buffalobills.com/?p=36821]]>His plane from Mobile that was connecting through Atlanta en route to Cleveland today was delayed, but the local television station in Cleveland is reporting that Mike Pettine’s plane has landed.

]]>http://blogs.buffalobills.com/2014/01/23/pettine-lands-in-cleveland/feed/0Chris BrownSchefter: Pettine wants the Browns jobhttp://blogs.buffalobills.com/2014/01/23/schefter-pettine-wants-the-browns-job/
http://blogs.buffalobills.com/2014/01/23/schefter-pettine-wants-the-browns-job/#commentsThu, 23 Jan 2014 16:43:50 +0000http://blogs.buffalobills.com/?p=36817]]>ESPN NFL reporter Adam Schefter just appeared on ESPN radio in Cleveland to provide further clarity to his tweet a bit earlier this morning that the Browns are prepared to offer their head coaching job to Bills defensive coordinator Mike Pettine. Here’s what he said in a brief interview just a few minutes ago late Thursday morning.

“I think they’re going to offer him the job and then they’ll begin to negotiate terms,” said Schefter. “That has not yet begun. So we’ll have to see how it goes when things get underway with contract talks, but the understanding that Chris Mortensen and I have is they’re going to offer Mike Pettine the job and assuming the two sides can work out a deal that they have not yet had discussions on then Mike Pettine will get hired as the next head coach of the Cleveland Browns.”

“They will have to get the deal done with Pettine, but they’re expected to offer him the job, he wants the job, they want him to take the job, so unless something happens that’s where it’s headed right now unquestionably,” Schefter said.

So it sounds like as long as the two sides can agree on the contract terms Pettine will become the next head coach of the Cleveland Browns.

]]>http://blogs.buffalobills.com/2014/01/23/report-pettine-to-be-offered-browns-job/feed/0Chris BrownPack may block Van Pelt from moving onhttp://blogs.buffalobills.com/2014/01/23/pack-may-block-van-pelt-from-moving-on/
http://blogs.buffalobills.com/2014/01/23/pack-may-block-van-pelt-from-moving-on/#commentsThu, 23 Jan 2014 14:27:38 +0000http://blogs.buffalobills.com/?p=36806]]>If Bills defensive coordinator Mike Pettine is offered the Browns head coaching job there is a lot of media speculation that he’ll tab Green Bay Packers running backs coach Alex Van Pelt for his offensive coordinator post. The problem there however, is Van Pelt is still under contract with Green Bay and most believe head coach Mike McCarthy will block any requests for an interview.

McCarthy already lost quarterbacks coach Ben McAdoo, who took the offensive coordinator post with the Giants earlier this month. It’s believed that Van Pelt would slide over to replace McAdoo as quarterbacks coach on McCarthy’s staff, so losing two offensive assistants is not something the Packers head coach would like to see happen.

Of course domino number one would need to fall first to see if the Van Pelt situation even becomes an issue between Cleveland and Green Bay.

On a separate note the Bills are interviewing candidates for their quarterbacks coach, but Van Pelt’s name has not surfaced in media circles for Buffalo’s new position to this point. The difference between the job available with the Bills and the potential one with the Browns is the Cleveland job would represent a promotion to a coordinator post. Buffalo’s vacancy would be more a lateral move.

]]>http://blogs.buffalobills.com/2014/01/23/pack-may-block-van-pelt-from-moving-on/feed/0Chris BrownPettine reported as front runner for Browns jobhttp://blogs.buffalobills.com/2014/01/23/pettine-reported-as-front-runner-for-browns-job/
http://blogs.buffalobills.com/2014/01/23/pettine-reported-as-front-runner-for-browns-job/#commentsThu, 23 Jan 2014 13:01:13 +0000http://blogs.buffalobills.com/?p=36804]]>Bills defensive coordinator Mike Pettine should learn his ultimate fate concerning the Browns vacant head coaching position for which he is now being labeled a front runner in some media reports. He and one other unnamed finalist for the job will interview one final time in Cleveland with the Browns brass Thursday.

]]>http://blogs.buffalobills.com/2014/01/22/report-pettine-1-of-2-finalists-for-browns/feed/0Chris BrownSchefter calls Pettine Browns fall back optionhttp://blogs.buffalobills.com/2014/01/22/schefter-calls-pettine-browns-fall-back-option/
http://blogs.buffalobills.com/2014/01/22/schefter-calls-pettine-browns-fall-back-option/#commentsWed, 22 Jan 2014 21:54:12 +0000http://blogs.buffalobills.com/?p=36799]]>ESPN NFL reporter Adam Schefter made an appearance on the Michael Kay Show in New York on ESPN radio and he was asked about where things stood with the Cleveland Browns head coaching job and whether Bills defensive coordinator Mike Pettine would be named to the post. He categorized Pettine as a “fall back” option. Here were his full comments on the Browns job and Pettine.

“I’ll say this on the Cleveland Browns. Expect the unexpected,” said Schefter late Wednesday afternoon. “The Mike Pettine situation is going on, they’ve interviewed him twice. If they wanted to hire him they could just go ahead and do that and maybe they still will.

“But me reading between the lines, they’re hopping around, they’re interviewing other candidates, they’re bouncing around the country. I think if Pettine were their guy it would just be over and done with. And the longer it goes on the less likely in my mind that Pettine becomes the guy.

“I think he’s in play clearly. I think I would categorize him now as a fall back option. I think they’re looking at other things. They’re interviewing other candidates. They spoke to Dirk Koetter this morning. They’re continuing to reach out to people.

“But the one thing I will say is expect the unexpected. If you think it’s going to be Mike Pettine. If you think it’s going to be Dirk Koetter, get ready for that curve ball.”

]]>http://blogs.buffalobills.com/2014/01/22/schefter-calls-pettine-browns-fall-back-option/feed/0Chris BrownReport: Pettine to hear from Browns by days endhttp://blogs.buffalobills.com/2014/01/22/report-pettine-to-hear-from-browns-by-days-end/
http://blogs.buffalobills.com/2014/01/22/report-pettine-to-hear-from-browns-by-days-end/#commentsWed, 22 Jan 2014 16:43:16 +0000http://blogs.buffalobills.com/?p=36780]]>Bills defensive coordinator Mike Pettine is still down at the Senior Bowl after interviewing with the Browns a second time last night. Naturally he’s being asked for comment on how things went with Cleveland Tuesday evening, but he’s chosen not to comment until he hears back from the Browns, which he reportedly expects in short order.

A Browns reporter has tweeted that in asking for Pettine to comment, the Bills defensive coordinator declined, but did say he expects to hear back from the Cleveland franchise by the end of today (Wednesday).

Buffalo Bills Mike Pettine said he’s holding off on speaking publicly on Cleveland Browns job but said he should know by the days end